Conman who faked his own death back in jail for will fraud

A conman who once faked his own death in a ‘Canoe Man’-style scam is back behind bars for posing as a will writer to swindle a 94-year-old man out of his home.

Anthony Mcerlean, 73, of Union Road, Canterbury, obtained power of attorney over George Manwill and moved him into an old people’s residence after helping him sell his house during 2016.

He then tried to purchase a £39,000 necklace from a city jewellers with his victim’s money and bought a £16,000 Audi, claiming he needed it to ferry the pensioner to medical appointments.

A Santander bond, worth £ 135,000, went straight into Mcerlean’s bank account.

Woolwich Crown Court heard how Mr Manwill received a cold call in September 2015 from a will-writing service and Mcerlean turned up at his front door shortly afterwards.

Over the next eight months, Mcerlean inveigled his way into every aspect of the elderly man’s life - helping him with the sale of his house, gaining lasting power of attorney over him, linking his bank accounts to Mr Manwill’s and moving him out.

He forged the signature of Constance Jessop, an elderly neighbour and friend of Mr Manwill’s, on the documents, giving him power of attorney.

In a witness statement, Mr Manwill said: “At first I didn’t trust him, but I received a phone call from a lady stating he was qualified. He seemed genuine. I came to consider him a friend.

“In July 2016 my house was sold. He told me it had been put in a Lloyd’s bank account but I have never seen any evidence.”

He said he had paid Mcerlean “several thousand” for his services, adding: “My will was split five ways with my family and neighbours. I have not given him any permission to take money from my accounts.

“I feel such a fool that he has taken my money when I trusted him.

“I never wished for Anthony or Sonya Mcerlean to be beneficiaries of my will.”

A signed and witnessed will naming them both as sole beneficiaries of Mr Manwill’s £800,000 was made but was never found.

Mcerlean visited Cousins jewellers in Canterbury in 2016 to buy the necklace and claimed he had won £750,000 in the lottery

He told the court: “I have very little recollection of that. I was very inebriated.”

Mcerlean denied but was convicted of one count of dishonestly obtaining lasting power of attorney for gain.

He was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on February 25.

‘I feel such a fool that he has taken my money when I trusted him’ - George Manwill

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